WASHINGTON -- Hazardous material teams were called to a D.C. home Monday morning for the report of a strong odor making people sick.Authorities said that they were called to a home in the 600 block of Kenyon Street in Northwest at about 8 a.m.
Crews responding to the scene said they found six people, including a child, with symptoms similar to carbon monoxide exposure.Hazmat personnel took readings and confirmed the people inside the home had been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide.A house next door was also evacuated, but did not show abnormal levels of carbon monoxide, officials said."Apparently there was some sort of malfunction of a hot water heater used in the basement, said D.C. Fire and Rescue spokesman Alan Etter.Etter said the carbon monoxide fumes were the strongest in the basement of the house. He said that a woman taken from the basement suffered the worst symptoms.Six people were taken to area hospitals. Their conditions are unknown.D.C. fire officials are giving away free smoke detectors that can also read carbon monoxide levels in a home. To find out how to get one of those free detectors, call 202-727-1614.
